Abortion has been around as long as man has been around. There have always been circumstances where it was inconvenient for the man or woman to produce an offspring. History indicates that the practice of terminating a pregnancy to prevent it from resulting in a birth has been around since ancient times.Through history pregnacies were terminated through various methods. Earliest writings indicate that plants and concoctions were used to abort a pregnancy. At later times sharpened implements, abdominal pressure or other methods were used.
History shows that abortion was a common practice and late term abortions were performed in a number of cultures. Ancient Greeks believed that a baby only became a “person” after he has taken a breath. Abortion was found morally acceptable. Reports of abortions were found in most ancient cultures including: Japanes, Chinese, Indian, Roman, Maori.
Early Christian writers generally shunned abortion but as no reliable contraceptives were available abortion remained a possible alternative. Abortion laws and moral values around abortion have fluctuated through various eras during history. During recent times woman’s rights groups, doctors and social reformers have successfully repealed abortion bans in many countries. In countries where abortions are illegal, women seek unsafe procedures to terminate their pregnancies. This causes high incidences of uncontrolled vaginal bleeding, infections and death in young women. Legalizing abortions save the lives of many young women who find themselves in an uncompromising position.
